GREAT BASIN COLLEGE

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

www.gbcnv.edu/sga

S G A

ELECTION

APPLICATION

PACKET

LAST DAY TO FILE FOR SGA OFFICE!

THURSDAY April 12, 2007 5:00P.M.

*** TO FILE: Submit Form One and Form Two (pages 15, 16 and 17)

to:

Julie Smith, SGA Student Advocate

Elko Campus – College Community Center

775.753.2343

APPLICANT:

THANK YOU for showing interest in running for a Student Government Association position. CAREFULLY read the documents in this election packet. Please do not hesitate to ask questions. GOOD LUCK!

Julie Smith Charlene Mitchel Mary Swetich Al Daniels Heather Estes

Elko Battle Mountain Ely Pahrump Winnemucca

753-2343 635-2318 289-3589 727-2017 623-1804

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SGA ELECTION PACKET CONTENTS

•  Election Application Deadline and Election Dates - Page 2.

•  SGA Constitution/SGA BYLAWS – Governing Documents for SGA - Contains SGA Officer and Senator position requirements etc. Pages 3 – 14.

•  Election Application Form 1 and Form II – Information, Instructions, Rules: Pages 15, 16 and 17.

SGA ELECTION APPLICATION DEADLINE and ELECTION INFORMATION:

•  Deadline: Thursday April 12, 2007, 5:00P.M. – Election Applications, Form One and Form Two (pages 15, 16 & 17), must be signed and submitted to the corresponding campus: (MAKE COPIES FOR YOUR CANDIDATE SPEECH & RECORDS)

•  Elko – Julie Smith, College Community Center

•  Battle Mountain – Charlene Mitchel

•  Ely – Mary Swetich

•  Pahrump – Al Daniels

•  Winnemucca – Heather Estes

•  Campaign Workshop: Friday, April 13, 12:30P.M. SGA President Carrie Rowley and SGA Advocate, Julie Smith host a CAMPAIGN WORKSHOP (IAV).

Location: Elko Campus – Lund 114, Battle Mountain Campus – BM 3

Ely Campus – GBC 111, Pahrump Campus – PVC 122 Winnemucca Campus – GBC 115

•  Candidate Speeches (IAV): (max. length - 5 minutes): Friday, April 20, 2007, 12:30P.M.

Location: Same as Campaign Workshop

•  SGA Election Campaigning:

Monday, April 16, 2007 – Thursday, April 26, 2007

•  SGA Voting:

Monday, April 23, 2007 – Thursday, April 26, 2007

ELKO: 8A.M. – 7P.M. College Community Center, SGA Office and other possible

pre-announced locations

BATTLE MOUNTAIN, ELY, PAHRUMP, WINNEMUCCA as designated

•  Election Results:

Friday, April 27, 2007 - Posted at SGA Office and Branch Campus Sites

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Constitution

Preamble

An appreciation of the active involvement in the democratic process is a vital part of higher education. Education, which excludes training and the opportunity in the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, is an incomplete education. At Great Basin College, we emphasize the importance of academic excellence and the total involvement of every student in the process of self-government.

The Student Government Association of Great Basin College, in exercising authority granted by this constitution, shall conform to rules, regulations and policies as established by the Board of Regents, and to all applicable statutes of the State of Nevada. If any of the provisions of this constitution are deemed to be in conflict with any of the rules, regulations and policies of the Board of Regents, or applicable statutes of the State of Nevada, those rules, regulations, policies, and statutes shall control. The Board of Regents reserves the right to repeal, modify, or otherwise amend any provision of the constitution as is deemed necessary by a majority vote of the Regents to be in the best interests of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Article I

Name and Purpose

A. The name of this organization shall be the Student Government Association of Great

Basin College and it may be known as the Student Government Association (SGA).

B. The purpose of the SGA shall be to function as the representative body for all students to:

  1. Make recommendations concerning student welfare to those persons responsible for the administration of college policies.
  1. Enact policies and/or procedures concerning students. Such policies and/or procedures should be consistent with rules, regulation and policies adopted by the Board of Regents.
  1. Provide leadership for all SGA meetings of the student body.
  1. Assist in the directing and coordinating of student activities.
  1. Support SGA sanctioned student organizations.
  1. Encourage cooperation between students, staff, and faculty.
  1. Assess student opinions and needs as deemed necessary and proper.
  1. Encourage student involvement.

Article II

Membership and Representation

A.  All students enrolled in at least one credit shall be granted membership in the SGA.

B.  Members shall have the right to vote in all student elections, the right to participate in all activities sponsored by the SGA, and the right to attend all open meetings in accordance to Nevada Open Meeting Law.

C.  The SGA Senate and Executive Board shall have governing authority of membership.

Article III

Structure and Duties of Officers

A. The structure of the Student Government Association shall consist of the

following:

1.  The SGA will consist of the Executive Board, the Senate, and if the Executive Board so chooses they may appoint a senate chair.

2.  The Executive Board will be comprised of the four executive officers President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

3.  The Senate will be comprised of Senators that are either elected or appointed. The number of Senator positions is not to exceed 10 on the Elko campus, 2 on the Winnemucca campus, 2 on the Ely campus, 2 on the Pahrump Campus, and 1 on the Battle Mountain Campus.

4.  The term of an elected/appointed spring SGA officer shall begin immediately upon election or appointment and terminates at the following spring election. The term of an elected/appointed fall SGA officer shall begin immediately upon election or appointment and terminates at the following fall election.

5.  Any student eligible to hold office must maintain a semester grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

6.  To be eligible to hold the office of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, or Senator, officers must complete at least six (6) GBC credits or GBC shared program credits per semester. Candidates for President or Vice President positions must have completed thirty (30) GBC credit hours or previously held the position of Senator or other executive office at GBC for the term of one (1) term. Previous credit hours are not required for candidates of the Senator position or other executive positions.

7.  If the executive board so chooses, they may appoint a senate chair from the elected/appointed senators.

8.  To be eligible for the office of senate chair the senator must have previously held the position of senator for one term.

9.  A vacancy in any elected office of the SGA shall be filled by appointment by the SGA President, with approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the SGA with a quorum present.

10.  All SGA meetings are mandatory for all Officers. Three unexcused absences shall result in a vote of the SGA with quorum present at the next regularly scheduled meeting that may result in the removal of office.

B. The duties of the Student Government Association Officers shall consist of the following:

1. President

  1. The President will represent the SGA in the college community and to the community at large.
  1. The President will attend Board of Regents meetings on a regular basis, and periodically report on the progress and implementation of all actions of the SGA to the Great Basin College President, as well as, to the appropriate college committees (e.g. Faculty Senate).
  1. The President will have the power to veto Senate policies and/or procedures.
  1. The President will draft, distribute and post agendas for SGA meetings in compliance with requirements of the Nevada Open Meeting Law.
  1. The President will attend SGA meetings, and other SGA supported activities when possible.
  1. The President will be empowered to call an emergency session of the SGA, as circumstances require, that is consistent with requirements of the Nevada Open Meeting Law as stated in chapter 241 of the Nevada statutes as amended.
  1. Vice President
  2. The Vice President will assume the role and responsibilities of the President in the event of an absence, vacancy or incapacitation of the President.
  1. The Vice President will be the chair of the SGA Programming Board Committees.
  1. The Vice President will attend SGA Meetings as a voting member and may attend other meetings as a voting member as stated by the SGA Bylaws.
  1. The Vice President shall have the authority to appoint membership on SGA Committees.
  1. Secretary
  2. The Secretary will record and prepare the SGA minutes and will then ensure that they are posted in accordance with Nevada Open Meeting Law.
  3. The Secretary will support other SGA committees as directed by the SGA President.
  1. The Secretary will attend SGA Meetings as a voting member and may attend other meetings as a voting member as stated by the SGA Bylaws.
  1. Treasurer
  1. The Treasurer will advise the SGA when a transaction does not coincide with the budget.
  1. The Treasurer will be responsible for all financial matters concerning SGA.
  1. The Treasurer will provide a written and an oral line-item report on a monthly basis to the SGA regarding the financial status of the SGA.
  1. The Treasurer will attend SGA Meetings as a voting member and may attend other meetings as a voting member as stated by the SGA Bylaws.

5. Duties of Senators

a. Each Senator will attend all SGA meetings either in person or by interactive video. Senators will also attend other SGA supported activities as assigned by the President or Vice President.

b. Each Senator will serve on at least one SGA committee per semester.

c. Each Senator will have the right to vote in SGA meetings.

C. Duties of Student Advocate

1. The Student Advocate will be a professional position attached to the Office of Student Services.

2. The Student Advocate will make recommendations to the SGA concerning any business, financial, program, procedural issues, and will check SGA officer eligibility.

3. The Student Advocate will oversee and process SGA expenditures and contractual agreements that have been approved by the SGA in accordance with current Board of Regents and Great Basin College policies and procedures.

4. The Student Advocate will identify relevant policies and procedures as needed.

5. The Student Advocate will provide leadership training and guidance.

6. The Student Advocate will appoint and chair the election committee.

Article IV

SGA Elections/Voting Procedures

A.  Election Committee

1.  The Election Committee will be formed two (2) weeks prior to elections and will be appointed by the Student Advocate. Elections for officers will be held the last week of April. Elections may be held the third week of the fall semester for open senate positions.

2.  The Student Advocate and Election Committee will adhere to election rules as stated in the SGA Bylaws.

3.  The committee will consist of no more than seven people, including at least one faculty, staff, or administrator of GBC, to be chosen by the current Student Advocate.

4.  No member of the committee will be eligible to run for any SGA position.

5.  The responsibility of the Election Committee will be to oversee election procedure and enforce rules pertaining to elections.

B.  Infractions Committee

1.  An Infractions Committee will be formed prior to elections by the Student Advocate consisting of three faculty members and two students not seeking a SGA office.

2. The committee will be responsible for investigations and determining the course of action to be taken in the event of violations of any election rule as determined by the Election Committee during or after an election.

3. All potential candidates will abide by all election rules stated in the SGA Bylaws. These rules will be distributed to each candidate and each candidate will sign the rules, indicating that they understand them.

a. Locked/secure boxes and/or voting booths will be used to secure all votes.

b. Voting Procedures will be followed as stated in the SGA Bylaws.

Article V

Remuneration of SGA Officers and Senators

A.  The SGA President will receive a payment in the amount of tuition costs and tech fee charges equivalent to fifteen (15) lower division GBC credit hours.

B.  The SGA Vice President will receive a payment in the amount of tuition costs and tech fee charges equivalent to twelve (12) lower division GBC credit hours.

C.  The SGA Secretary, Treasurer, and Senate Chair will receive a payment in the amount of tuition costs and tech fee charges equivalent to nine (9) lower division GBC credit hours.

D.  The SGA Senators at all campus sites will receive a payment in the amount of tuition costs and tech fee charges equivalent to six (6) lower division GBC credit hours.

E. Payment for Officers serving during the summer term shall be $100.00.

G. Officers impeached or removed from office will not be entitled to payment.

Article VI

Impeachment of SGA Officers

A. Grounds for impeachment

1.  SGA Officers shall be subject to impeachment and removal by the SGA on the grounds of malfeasance wrong doing or misconduct.

2.  SGA Officers shall be subject to impeachment and removal by the SGA on the grounds of misfeasance the doing of a lawful act in an unlawful or improper manner, so that there is an infringement on the rights of another or others.

3.  SGA Officers shall be subject to impeachment and removal by the SGA on the grounds of nonfeasance, failure to do what duty requires to be done.

4.  Any member of the SGA or the Student Body may bring impeachment charges against any Officer or Senator. At the time the charges are leveled, the SGA shall hear the charges, then allow the officer involved six days to respond to such charges, either in person or writing. The SGA shall then determine, by a majority vote with a quorum present, whether there is just cause to initiate impeachment procedures. If so, the Impeachment Committee shall be immediately activated.

B. Impeachment Committee Structure:

  1. The Impeachment Committee shall be composed of all SGA officers and the Vice President for Student Services, who will chair the meeting to maintain order.

C. The Impeachment Committee shall be permitted a maximum of fourteen (14) days to initiate a committee meeting and make a decision. During this committee meeting each side will be permitted 15 minutes to present their case. The chair will call for discussion, and then call for a vote by the SGA officers.